Coffee, Mountains, & Wine

  • Curious about spoken word? Watch the latest example on YouTube

    What is spoken word?

    Spoken word is the act of sharing poetry through oral communication. It’s found in coffee shops, bookstores, and in your room. Examples include:

    • Poetry slams
    • Short stories
    • Monologues
    • Any other literature that’s performed out loud

    It’s even grouped with forms of music such as hip-hop, jazz, country, and many more.

    Fun Fact:

    The term “Jazz Poetry” was created by Langston Hughes, who wrote collections of poetry that went together with elements of jazz and would often reflect the characteristics of jazz music. Elements such as:

    • Rhythm
    • Tempo
    • Rhyme

    How do you write spoken word?

    Spoken word is easier than what people imagine. However, it isn’t the same as reading a book or novel to a group of people. It requires body language, tone, literary devices, and other forms of communication that aren’t as obvious. When grouped, it becomes a performance that people enjoy not only through eyes but through ears as well.

    Spoken word is an inclusive art that incorporates people, ideas, and topics, from around the world. It’s entirely dependent on the writer and how they choose to express themselves.

    Simply: There’s no right way. There’s no wrong way.

    Personal example

    A perfect example is ‘Hut of a Room’ by C.R. Angel, where he goes over the contents of his room through rhyme, metaphor, and humor. It’s a description, entertained with knowledge and insight, expressed through words and meaning.

    The ‘Hut of a Room’ video is on YouTube for you to watch, but you can listen to more by C.R. Angel and his podcast, which share many other ideas and topics that revolve around spoken word.

    Hut of a Room(YouTube)
    Podcast

  • Three reasons on why people write: Why is it worthy?

    Why do we write?

    People find new perspectives on why they write every day, and it’s impossible to list every reason without forgetting someone or something. It’s a question that gets asked by critics, academia, and people who find themselves in front of a piece of paper. However, we continue the intimate path of art and knowledge through literature. Through writers like you.

    We’ve gathered many ideas, reasons, and opinions on why people write and have attempted to boil them down into three main reasons.

    Reason One: Necessity

    People are forced to write every day, and it’s a system that’s taught from childhood. Children go to school and are required to write for a rank of letters and grades that they feel satisfied with as long as they meet expectations. They’re given tasks and criteria that mark whether or not they successfully wrote a worthy piece, regardless of how they felt during the process. Children without the proper direction of consciousness or attention begin to look only at the ends rather than the means.

    This process slowly pursues the idea of writing as something we have to do or a task we should do (especially if we’re receiving a gift afterward). There’s no better example of this than the profession of adulthood.

    Young adults today are trained to write under the blanket of security without ever catching a glimpse of intrinsic value, with flashes of checks, résumés, and end-of-the-work briefs that offer a comfort zone.

    Reason Two: Expression

    • Sanity
    • Pleasure
    • Comprehension

    Writing’s a known act that brings clarity and peace of mind, especially through times of great stress. It presents an opportunity to sort out the knots of our thoughts and emotions that lie deep within. Suppressed or not, it helps us in the process of connecting with other people as well as with ourselves. To share such an experience means that we’re opening up to the world and saying ‘yes’ to anyone who wishes to view our internal self. Both sane and insane.

    The edges of this pleasurable blade are of great consequence to how we look at life and its perspectives. It’s an art that we use to entertain our minds through a craft of language and grammar. However, it cuts deep into the grains of our beliefs and persona with no care of how it affects us. For there is always a pleasure even with suffering.

    To write is to play a dangerous game that invites an urge to question whatever a person expresses. It thrives on intention and encourages reflection, all in the name of comprehension. People enjoy a challenge and that’s offered when a person chooses to write for the reason of trying to understand.

    “The problems of the human heart in conflict with itself… alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat.” 

    William Faulkner

    Reason Three: Improvement

    The ability to improve through literature is something that we’re gifted with as human beings. It can be professional(building a personal platform), creative(stretching of the mind), intellectual(understanding a personal philosophy), or any other imaginable way. There’s limitless potential, so long as the person believes it. It’s a powerful force that anyone can sharpen, which starts with a pen (or keyboard).

    The desire to improve lies in being genuine rather than feeling like it’s a necessity or something you have to do.

    Watch now on:

    YouTube

  • First video is out on YouTube: Dedicated to all aspects of writing

    What’s it about?

    We’re excited to share that you now receive more content from C.R. Angel and his Youtube channel, where he explores all the fascinating aspects of writing creatively and professionally.

    Aspects like:

    • Constructive criticism
    • Writing exercises
    • Habits of a productive writer

    How can you watch?

    The only things you need are YouTube and some electronic device. It can be a phone, laptop, or tablet of any kind. Then, click the video after looking up “c.r. angel” in the search box.

    For your convenience

    We realize the inconvenience of opening an app and searching aimlessly for the right video. So, we’ve taken the liberty of leaving a button below that directs you to the video by C.R. Angel and his YouTube channel.

    YouTube

  • Losing sense.

    Session Two Aftermath:

    No sound. No color. No light. My rods and cones were of little use and it was still a pleasure. There were gems of unspeakable truth. I craved the next thought with no worry of what was left behind. I relished the darkness with comfort of its honesty. I fell at peace even in the bowels of my doubt and discomfort. Or was it because I knew of where I was? I knew my surroundings. After all, I did sign up for it. So could this one be okay with being thrown into the darkness, not knowing of where they are or what’s around them?

    My nose is stuffy through the process, and I have not a shred of sickness. I stretched my head even further as I reached wide with hopes of bringing air into this body.

    When I inhaled, it felt as if I were being plucked by the gods themselves. I wondered what they would do with such an insignificant thing. I am not the sweetest of fruits nor do I hold any juices of wisdom. Yet, I was played with like the clay that I am. I was molded to whatever their hands desired and I learned with every touch they blessed me with. One became entertained with a free mind to their curious ways. They put me down with hopes of laughter as they placed bets on what I would remember. It was a game for everyone to enjoy so long as they remained light-hearted and content. Their final words expressed truth and equal pleasure between gods and play-doh. They shared similarities between them and divulged only one difference within a poem which they sang out loud. But I fear a loss of memory as I fear the consequence of draining the pockets of a god. This can be a threatening matter or it can be the lightest of jests. For the only difference between us is the manner of seriousness in which we bring to our creations.

    C.R. Angel

  • Losing sense.

    Session One:

    I suppose it begins with me arriving an hour before my appointment. Looking at the time, I could have sworn that I was destined to be late.

    I took a three minute shower and even skipped the application of lotion upon my body, but that is of little consequence.

    Now I wait for my time, my pod, my pool, and anything of that nature.

    Am I excited?

    Am I nervous?

    Am I at peace?

    I feel so, but perhaps I’m wrong. Are there any demos I fight without knowing?

    Of course there is.

    That’s the essence of the unconscious mind.

    It’s the essence of being human.

    Session One Aftermath:

    I have left the premises of tranquility and with introspection, I seem at ease.

    In the beginning phases of floating, I noticed the constant awareness of what’s around me (or should I say the lack of).

    I knew that one half of me was submerged into the water but I seemed to have lost my other self. It was as if I became one underneath the shadow of myself. I could not differentiate between my physicality, but I did notice the water.

    It was subtle.

    Warm.

    Lover-like.

    I then began to notice the mind. It started to peruse the corners and cracks of my inner-self.

    Debates on the conscious, unconscious, life, death, love, attachment, happiness, anger, and nothingness.

    For nothing is still something.

    If nothing was truly nothing, then why do we discuss it? Why do we argue on it? For something to be truly nothing; we must not know what it is. We mustn’t have a clue on anything of its nature or existence.

    But even then it is still something.

    Only far from us.

    Time is nothing but skewed upon the pod of oneself. So what does one do when time isn’t a factor?

    You waste it.

    But what is to waste time in the eyes of a human, seeing that it’s a subjective term.

    Do you count to one-hundred?

    Do you talk out loud?

    Do you get out and pleasure yourself?

    Or do you do nothing?

    Wasting time is nothing,

    but nothing is still something.

    C.R. Angel

  • New Episode on Anchor.

    It has been a long minute since my last podcast episode. I will admit my love for jazz as I will admit its inspiration for this piece. There are many Jazz Standards when it comes to songs and I believe “In A Sentimental Mood” is one of them. However, the piece I wrote was in correspondence with the rendition of Duke Ellington.

    “I then wonder if I am now in a sentimental mood with my friend The Duke”.

    C.R. Angel

    I had an enjoyment writing this piece not only because of its sense of rhyme, but its sense of rawness within it. It speaks of blame, excuses, and the effects of listening to jazz.

    Listen now:
    https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/uPf1OOXWdsb

  • Poetic Form: Abstract

    Abstract Poetry was popularized by well-renowned British author/poet, Dame Edith Sitwell in her 1922 book, Facade. Abstract Poetry focuses less on meaning and more on sound, rhyme, and rhythm to convey its message which often triggers a multitude of emotions.

    “Tall windows show infinity;

    And, hard reality,

    The candles weep, and pry, and dance

    Like lives mocked at by chance”.

    Dame Edith Sitwell, in her poem “Clowns’ Houses”.

    As stated before, the book Facade offers examples of the concept that is abstract poetry. Sitwell is world-renowned for her work and offers many collections that would prove suitable for a shelf of books.

    But how can there be an explanation of poetic forms without a personal example?

    A withered road went way,

    As drab clouds covered day.

    A sunshine began to sprout,

    From white horses, they show.

    C.R. Angel

    Poetry Challenge

    Storing any Abstract Poetry? Want to try something new? Try writing an Abstract Poem and see what comes of it. Email us your work to show it off.

    Happy writing!

  • Location: Keystone, Colorado.

    This is not an endorsement of any kind, but it is a recording of my time out in Keystone, Colorado. As my previous post mentioned, I like to travel because it offers perspective to life and writing as a whole. The town of Keystone is quaint, and the mountains are a delight to ride in terms of snowboarding/skiing.

    Amongst the entrance, there lay a brave soul who takes the burden of attempting to find a spot to park. Once I became furnished with the proper gear, I proceeded to tread with a snowboard in my hands.

    The walk to a gondola thrilled me with every cup that clashed along with the campfires that welcomed you with open arms. The scenery brought an ebullient smirk along with the pleasure of seeing such a wonderful community. I became inspired which was then the creation of a poem titled Stories of the west:

    A fire burns with the sparks of each other,

    While one offers bread to another.

    As boards and skis line high,

    So does the joy as we pass time.

    We each have our stories and tales,

    As conversation prevails.

    Dare I get used to this,

    That is living in bliss.

    After riding down all sorts of runs(including the beginners) I reached the precipice of a mountain where I was stunned. Carefully treading along, I concocted one last piece titled Keystone.

    You’re the snow to my board.

    You’re the key to my stone.

    Whenever alone, I embrace the brisk air.

    Nothing compares to the hats of ice that mountains wear.

    After writing the following poem, I glided down the bottom where I gloriously admired the view above me. Some pictures along the way included:

    I recommend Keystone to anyone who is in search of a good time/run. It is suitable for beginners while still offering a challenge and joy to the novice rider. This is again not an advertisement. But a memory worth recalling.

    Have you been here before? Do you have a location worth sharing? I encourage any comment or recommendation on different areas and locations!

  • Here I am!

    Here I am,

    I am a writer/poet by the name of C.R. Angel who began writing four years ago. I often write poetry while still trying to dabble in other things such as photography and some spoken word. I also like to learn and travel while exploring the depths of life’s lessons and joys. Stay tuned, I hope you enjoy, and as always, much love.